Have you ever heard of Asbestos? Do you know if exposure to Asbestos is safe or harmful?
Let’s dive into what asbestos actually is, the health concerns of being exposed to asbestos and how to remove this hazardous material if you have it in your home.
First of all asbestos is a naturally occurring material that was used in the 1950s and 1960s extensively because it is an insulator, has good fire protection, properties has tensile strength, and is resistant. Asbestos is the generic name for 6 different naturally-occurring fibrous minerals. Based on their physical and chemical properties, there are two major groups of asbestos: serpentine and amphibole.
Serpentine: Serpentine fibres are long, flexible and curved. These fibres can be woven together. The main type of serpentine asbestos is chrysotile (white asbestos), which is the main type of asbestos used in manufacturing.
Amphiobole: Amphibole fibres are straight and stiff. These fibres are generally brittle and rod- or needle-shaped, which limits their commercial usefulness.
Unfortunately there are many health concerns that have risen as a result of being exposed to asbestos over a certain period of time. Asbestos can be difficult to detect because it is often mixed with other materials. However, if you work in a building built before 1990, it’s likely that at least some parts of the building will contain asbestos. To determine whether or not a building has asbestos in it, it is recommended to hire a hazardous materials consultant. They will take samples of the material from the building/site in question and test it. Then they will provide a survey to determine the location of and percentage of asbestos containing materials.
Health concerns from exposure to asbestos stated directly from the Canadian Center for Occupational Health & Safety
“The human health effects from long-term unsafe asbestos exposure are well documented. Asbestos fibres are easily inhaled and carried into the lower regions of the lung where they can cause fibrotic lung disease (asbestosis) and changes in the lining of the chest cavity (pleura). These diseases can lead to reduced respiratory function and death. Long-term inhalation of asbestos fibres also increases the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Enlargement of the heart can also occur as an indirect effect from the increased resistance of blood flow through the lungs.”
People are more likely to experience asbestos-related disorders if they:
- are exposed to high concentrations of asbestos,
- are exposed for longer periods of time, and/or
- are exposed to asbestos more frequently.
Asbestos is currently the number one cause of death amongst construction workers. Demolition of materials containing asbestos fibre can release these fibres into the air. These fibres are extremely fine and can stay in the air hours, and you can be harmed by breathing it in over time. Asbestos is a hazard to health when the fibres are disturbed and become airborne. This means that asbestos poses health risks only when fibres are present in the air and then people breathe them into the lungs. Fibres can be released into the air when asbestos-containing products break down. This release can happen through deterioration or when the material is cut or disturbed and is so dangerous because it is mostly undetected and unseen and can stay in the air for hours. Asbestos- related disease usually develop many years after a person has been exposed to asbestos.
Where can you find Asbestos?
Asbestos may be present in the following materials:
1) Roof felt, shingles gutters
2) Vinyl tile, linoleum sheet flooring and flooring adhesive.
3) Deck under sheeting.
4) Stucco
5) Loses, blown-in insulation (such as vermiculite) and batt insulation, (found in walls, attics and brick voids).
6) Light fixtures
7) Soundproofing or decorative materials sprayed on walls and ceiling.
8) Gypsum board filling compound, and patching and joint compound.
9) Textured walls and ceiling.
10) Window putty
11) Mastic around ducting joint and holding ceiling tiles to concrete.
12) Pipe insulation (usually found on elbows) and gaskets.
Call your professionals!
If you are concerned about and question whether or not asbestos is present in your home, call a professional. It may be appropriate to get an asbestos inspection, which will determine whether or not asbestos is actually in your home and needs to be removed. Let the professionals take care of this, since removing asbestos can be dangerous.
“Asbestos removal services include identifying potential hazards, disposing substances and materials, and repairing what was damaged. Remember, asbestos fibers are too small to see just by staring at a surface. It is extremely important that a qualified expert be consulted when removing asbestos from buildings.” Urban Environmental
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